wings are done
so much for the rubber match
E
Wings are getting old and we need Maltby, Draper and even Lidstrom to step back.....
I'm a big fan of Lombardi, he's got competent offensive skill, he's blazing fast, kills penalties, is young (under 30). Not sure how it could happen though. With Helm, Abdelkader, Miller and Eaves due up for re-signing, Hudler coming back, and Ritola being out of options and having to be resigned as well, there's logjam when it comes to forwards. And Phoenix might resign Lombardi anyway.
Looking at the lines for next year...something is gonna have to give.
Holmstrom (if he doesn't retire) - Datsyuk - Franzen
Filppula - Zetterberg - Bertuzzi (like I said, I believe he'll be back)
Hudler - Miller - Cleary
Eaves - Helm - Abdelkader
Have to assume they'll resign Ritola; what about Draper? Do they nudge him toward retirement? Or do they decide to let some combination of Miller/Eaves/Bertuzzi go and use that money to go after somebody like a Matthew Lombardi?
As for the defense...assuming Lidstrom comes back, the top four remain the same, it's the bottom pair that gets murky. Lilja, Lebda and Meech are all FAs. Meech seems like a lock to be gone. Lebda, who knows. I don't think anybody would miss him, but who knows what Holland's thinking. Lilja, I still say he needs to be back for his value on the PK. And then you've got Kindl, one of the prize prospects in the organization, he's out of options too and has to be up with the NHL club next year.
Lidstrom - Rafalski
Kronwall - Stuart
Lilja - Ericsson/Lebda/Kindl?
Of course, all bets are off if Lidstrom retires, that's over 7 million dollars for the Wings to spend however they please. It won't be QUITE that much, since some of it would be used to bring Hudler back in and maybe a bump in pay to some of our FAs...but the entire thing gets tossed on its side if #5 retires.
Verrrrrrrrrry interesting offseason coming up.
